Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mahmoud Esmat, reaffirmed Egypt’s steadfast commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, underscoring that it is a fundamental right of all nations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
Speaking at the Second Global Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris on Tuesday, organised in co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Esmat highlighted Egypt’s ongoing research and development efforts in nuclear applications, fully aligned with the country’s Vision 2030.
Esmat emphasised Egypt’s dedication to leveraging its expertise, skilled personnel, and state-of-the-art research facilities to promote peaceful nuclear technology in collaboration with the IAEA at both Arab and African levels. This engagement is reinforced through Egypt’s membership in the Arab Atomic Energy Authority (AAEA) and the African Regional Cooperative Agreement (AFRA). He noted that Egypt has hosted thousands of trainees from African nations through diverse training and research programmes, reflecting the country’s leading role in strengthening regional nuclear capacities.
Providing an update on the Egyptian nuclear power project at the El-Dabaa plant, Esmat described it as a key milestone for sustainable development and domestic technology transfer. He highlighted ongoing construction and installation across the plant’s units, including the reactor pressure vessel for the first unit and reactor core catchers for units three and four, critical components of modern nuclear safety systems. Egypt has also received construction approval for its spent fuel storage facility, demonstrating its adherence to rigorous safety standards throughout the nuclear cycle.
Esmat stressed that Egypt’s nuclear programme adheres to the highest security and safety standards. The country has implemented a comprehensive nuclear security plan in co-operation with the IAEA, positioning Egypt as a regional hub for nuclear security training and awareness across the Middle East and Africa.
Esmat reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to full transparency in all peaceful nuclear activities under the NPT and comprehensive safeguards agreements, emphasising the central role of the IAEA in verification and oversight.
Esmat condemned any attacks on nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards, noting that such acts violate international law, the UN Charter, and IAEA regulations, while undermining the global non-proliferation system. He reaffirmed Egypt’s support for universal adherence to the NPT and the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East to address regional security threats without discrimination or double standards.
Concluding, Esmat highlighted Egypt’s support for emerging nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors (SMRs), noting their potential to expand access to clean and reliable nuclear energy for electricity generation and water desalination, in line with Egypt’s sustainable development goals.
